Grinding machinery



July 14, 1931. F. J. THELER 1,814,350

GRINDING MACHINERY Filed May 20, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 14, 1931. J,H R 1,814,350

GRINDING MACHINERY Filed May 20, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet, 2

Jrvuwntot dbhumq July 14; 1931. F. J. THELER 1,814,350

GRINDING MACHINERY Filed May 20, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 14, 1931. F.J.'THELER GRINDING MACHINERY Filed May 20, 1929 '4 Sheets-Sheefi. 4

damn,

Patented J tily .14, 193 1 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE FREDERICK J.THEIER, F CINCINNATI, OHIO, .ASSIGNOR '10 CINCINNATI GBINDEBS IINCORPORATED, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO GBINDIN GMACHINERY Application filed Kay 20,

This invention relates to improvements in grinding machinery and moreespecially to that type of machine commercially known as a centerlessgrinder.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is the provisionof a novel and improved structure of feed mechanism for supplying workin operative position to the machine for grinding action thereon.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means forsatisfactorily retaining out of balance work pieces in proper operativeposition during the grinding operation. An additional object of theinvention is the provision of a: combined work feeding support and anejecting mechanism particularly adapted for use in conjunction with amachine, as aforesaid, which will satisfae torily present the work tothe grinding throat, maintain same in a self determined position withinthe throat during grinding, independent of the movable or normally workengaging portion of the fixture, and will subse rpliently properlywithdraw and discharge t e completed work piece.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an automaticcontrol for the mechanism aforesaid whereby the cyclic shift 3 ingthereof will be effected in proper timed relation to the other automaticmovements of the machine whereby therate of production of the machinemay be automatically determined and the operator relieved of all laborexcept suitabl'e intermittent supplying of work pieces to the feedingmechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readilyapparent by reference to the following specification, considered inconjunction with the appended drawings illustrative ofIcertainembodiments thereof, and it will be understood that I may make anymodifications in the specific structural details hereinafter disclosed,within the scope,

of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spiritof the invention. Figure 1 is a front elevation of a manually controlledembodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the parts at the "grinding throat.

friction surface to the work piece, insuring its 1829. Serial 110.384,?-

Figure 3 is a transverse section as on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the parts at the grinding throat.

Figure 5 is a section through a portion of the work and outer supportstherefor on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse section on line 6'6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an end view, partially in sectron and partially inelevation, of a complete ly automatic machine.

Figure 8 is a front view, partially in elevatlon and partially insection, illustrating the automatic control mechanism, and

Figure 9 is an elevational view of the throat of a completely automaticmachine.

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates the bed of a centerlessgrinder having the head 11 rotatably supporting the grinding wheel 12operable in a clockwise direction at a high grinding rate of speed. Thebed is further provided with ways 11' for slide unit 13 having thefixture supporting bracket member 14 suitably secured thereon. Inaddition, slide '13 is provided with ways 15, for the regulating wheelunit 16, securable in ad- -justed position thereon as by'cla'mp 17 andbearing the suitably driven control or regulating wheel 18. This latteris also actuated in a clockwise direction but at a slow work controllingrate of speed, whereby its inner operative; surface will moveslowlyupward, presenting-a constant and uniform moving rotation at aconstant and uniform rate.

-' The bracket 14 has a projection 19 slotted as at 20 to receive theangle top work rest blade .21 retained in adjusted position by clampscrews 22..

The grinding and regulating wheels an Work rest, together, form a threepoint contact, respectively supporting, controlling and grindingpredetermined portions such as the rib 23 of work piece 24.

The particular mechanism here illustrated is designed to generate a truecylindrical surface on the portion 23 normal to the terminal.

face 25 of the work piece. It will be noted the major mass of the workpiece is laterally me disposed as respects the grinding throat, pre- 7sentinglan unbalanced condition which would norma y cause the workpiece, if unsupported, to topple over or fall out of the throat. Torevent occurrence of this action during grin 'ng and maintain the workpiece with its am's in proper relation to the operanti-friction thrustbearings 29, the spindle 30 having a suitable head 31. The spindle is.

- preferably mounted with extreme accuracy and is desi ed to be adjustedin substantially axial alignment with the work piece 24, with its face32 in close position determining engagement with face of the work piece.Consequently, if the work piece be pressed against the head 31, thishead willautomatically position the work piece in proper relation to theoperative surfaces of the grinding and regulating wheels. Itsanti-friction mounting will permit of its free rotation with the workpiece, while the slidin contact of faces 25 and 32 will permit 0 anyslight transverse play necessitated by out of round condition of thework piece or variation in its position in the throat due to reductionof diameter during the grinding. A suitable bell flange or projectingcap 33 is preferably utilized to protect the bearings or mountings ofspindle 30. Y

To support the work in engagement with,

head 31 during the grinding and tofacilitate introduction of the workinto the grinding throat and removal therefrom, use is made of themechanism illustrated in the righthand ortion of Figure 3. Thismechanism inclu es a supplemental bracket or support 34, rising frombracket 14 and bearing the adjustable head 35, in whichis slidable arotatable supported plunger bar 36 having the longitudinally extendinglgroove 37 inwardly terminating in a diagona y disposed or cam groove38. A pin 39, disposed in head 35, projects into the slot 37-38. and byits engagement limits and determines the movement of bar 36 with respectto the head. The bar carries on its inner end a collar 40, providedwithan arm 41 terminating in lug 42. Adjustably mounted on the face of lug42 are work engaging fingers 43 and 44, retainable in Broperly adjustedposition by bolts 45. It wi be noted that a work receiving space isprovided between arm 41 and the fingers 43 and 44, the fingers engagingthe smaller diameter 46 of the work piece. When the head is in retractedposition, the work piece will consequently be supported insli'ghtlytilted relation on the fingers, due to the greater weight of theenlarged outer end thereof, the

mding fingers themselves being1 adjusted to lie in a plane slightlybelow t at occupied by the work during the grindin Bar 36 is counterboreas at 47, to receive plunger 48 outwardly urged by spring 49 aringagainst flange 50 of the plunger at one end and against the base of therecess at the other. An inserted guide bushing 51 limits the outwardmovement of the plunger, permitting the same to roject a limlteddistance beyond the end 0 the bar when flange 50 is seated againstthe'end of the bushing. Thenormal projection of the plunger, however,is'insufiicientto contact with the work when it is initially placedwithin the retainin fixture.

In t e form of the invention particularly illustrated in Figures 1 to 3,inclusive, of the drawings, bar 36 is shown as formed with a reducedouter end, as at 52, on which is rotat-.

ably mounted collar 53 of handle 54, being retained in position byterminal nut 55. This handle has a spring pressed locator detent 56,engageable in a socket 57 of bar 36, tending to retain same in lockinposition from automatically disen aging the bar to permit rotation ofthe ban 1e thereto when manually actuated. The collar portion 53 of thehandle is provided with a locking pin or lug 58,

adapted to ride along incline 59 of lock plate 60, adjustably supportedon head 35 by pins 61, having the interposed springs 62 and terminallyprovided with adjusting nuts 63. When the handle is oscillated in aclockwise direction, lug 58 will be shifted from the full line positionindicated in Figure 6 onto the plane interface of the lock plate, asindicated by the dotted circle in said figure. When the handle is soshifted, detent 56 will tend to retain same againstaccidentaldislodgment and rod 36 will be positively'retained in itsinward position, as shown in. Figure 3 of the drawings.

When handle 54 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction, the efiect isa disengagement of the locking lug 58. The handle may then be drawnforwardl shifting with it rod 36, which will cause ngers 43 and 44 toengage the flange portion 64 of the work piece and retract same, pin 39limiting the movement of rod 36 to a purely axial sliding. 7

Continued retraction ofthe handle andro however, brings pin 39 intoportion 38 of the slot, automatically imparting a counterclockwiserotation to the rod of suflicient amount that the lefthand finger 44 nolonger laterally supports the work and the same may be either'manuallywithdrawn or allowed to roll out into a suitable trough or receptacle,

as indicated at 65. On the inception of re turn movement of handle 54,bar 36 is again automatically oscillated to move the open pocket formedon its end by the fingers, into a work supporting position, continuedmovement bringing thework inward until the head 31 contacts with thelower portion of the slightly tilted work piece supported thereformanceof the standard centerless grinding operation thereon and formation of acylindrical surface normal to the previously formed face 25.

It will be understood that the grinding here contemplated is what isgenerally known as in-feed grinding, in which the stock removal iseffected by positioning of the work piece within the grinding throat, asubsequent narrowing of the throat causing an approach of the operativesurfaces the grinding and regulating wheels engagi g the work to aprescribed position, causing the desired stock removal, and an ensuingopening of the throat to release the work and permit its readywithdrawal. In Figure 1, the mechanism illustrated for accomplishingthis re sult includes an adjusting screw 66 swiveled in bracket 67 onthe bed and in threaded engagement with a rotary nut 68 swiveled to theregulating wheel unit 16. This nut is.

' provided with an actuating handle 69, oscilried to compensate forwheel wear,

' effected by a block 71, sli

latable within prescribed limits, the rotation of the nut on the screwcausing aback and forth movement of slide 13 with the work rest andregulating wheel unit thereon. In ad dition, the position of the partsmay be vaset-up of the machine or the like by rotative adjustment of thescrew 66 as by pilot wheel 70. p

In Figures 7, 8 and 9 there has been illus trated what may be termed asubstantially complete automatic mechanism in which the mac ine partsare substantially as just described but in which the back and forth movement for variance of'thedgrinding throat is abl supported in thesub-frame 72 and having the nut engaged therein. Linkage 73 connects.this block with rock arm 74,having,a roller portion engaged in facegroove 75 of cam 76, to which power is suitably applied as from. motor77. This cam has the barrel portion 78 provided with a cam groove 79,engaging roller 80 on plunger 81. This plungeris pivotally associatedwith an arm 82 on rock shaft 83, which extends longitudinally of the bedin suitable bearings 84 and has an actuating rock arm 85, coupled withshifter spool 86 on bar 36.

In the operation of this form of the invention, as the cam 76-78 isrotated, it serves to effect cyclic opening and closing of thegrindingthroat for introduction, grind- I original ing and removal ofthe work piece; At the same time, the cam track 79, through theconnections mentioned, oscillates arm 85 in a manner to retract plunger36 during the widening of the grinding throat to a point where the rodtwists and the work is automatically ejected. The cam then imparts apartial inward movement to plunger 36, restoring the lug 42 to workretaining position and maintaining it immovable in this position asufiicient period of time to enable the operator to insert a new workpiece, the regulating wheel being held substantially stationary asrespects reciprocating movement. Continued rotation of the cam thenmoves member 36 inward, positioning the work.

piece on the work rest and in contact with the regulating wheel, lockingthe bar in this position with plunger 48 exerting the desired pressureto clamp the wor against rotary positioning head 31. The parts aremaintained in this position while the cam rotates, to produce thedesired in-feed of the regulating wheel, forcing the Work against thegrinding wheel for proper stock removal and until the regulating wheelmovement has.

been reversed and the Work released from the combined grip of grindingand regulating wheels, when the bar is retracted for ejection of thework piece. -This, it will be under-' stood, isa continuous cyclicoperation in which the only duty of the operator is the supplying of thework pieces, a function also accomplishable, if preferred, by the use ofsuitable hopper mechanism forming no part of the present invention andnot therefore illustrated or described.

From the foregoing description, considered-in conjunction with thedrawings, the advantages of the machine should be readily apparent andit will be noted that there has been provided an improved mechanism forintroducing a work piece into the grinding throat of a centerlessgrinder in a manner to permit'of grinding of a terminal portion of thework or, when the work is in an unbalanced condition, with its center ofgravity on the outside of the grinding throat. It will further be notedthat the mechanism is of such nature that the unbalanced Work piece issuitably, preferably, resiliently urged and maintained in a definiteposition as respects the plane of the grinding wheel, in such mannerthat the ground surface will be produced normal or in desired relation-Attention is further invited to the fact that the entire series ofoperations may be performed as an automatic cycle, requiring minimum ofattention or skill on the part of the operator, and that the cost ofproduction is therefore greatly reduced and necessary idle ornon-grinding time of the machine minimized.

I claim:

1. The combination with a centerless .grinder, including opposedgrinding and regulating wheels and an intermediate work support, of anoscillatable axially movable work positioning member disposed adjacentthe throat, and means for imparting successive axial and oscillatablemovements to the holder to present, withdraw and eject a work piece.

2. The combination with a centerless grind er, including opposedgrinding and regulating wheels and an intermediate work supportproviding a work receiving throat, of a rotary work locating memberdisposed adjacent the throat, and means for maintaining a work piece. interminal engagementwith the member while within the throat and supportedby the work rest.

3. The combination with a centerless grinder, including opposed grindingand regulating wheels and an intermediate work support providing a workreceiving throat, of a ro tary work locating member disposed adjacentthe throat, and means for maintaining a work piece in terminalengagement with the member while within the throat'and supported by thework rest, said means including a-yieldable actuated pressure device.

4:. The combination with a centerless grinder, including opposedgrinding and regulating wheels and an intermediate work supportproviding a work receiving throat, of a rotary work locating memberdisposed adjacent the throat, means for maintaining a work piece interminal engagement with the member while within the throat and sup-'ported by the work rest, said means including ayieldable actuatedpressure device, and means for axially withdrawing and laterallyejecting a finished work piece.

5. The combination with a centerless grinder, including opposed grindingand regulating wheels and an intermediate work rest providing a grindingthroat, of a rotary work positioning member aligned with the throat forengaging and positioning a work piece on the work rest within the throatduring the grinding operation, means for urging the work piece intoengagement with ,said member, and means for securing the parts inadjusted position.

6. The combination with a centerless grinder, including opposed grindingand regulating wheels and an intermediate work rest, of a workpositioning member aligned with the space between grinding andregulating wheels for engagement with a work piece to establish the axisthereof, and a reciprocable work carrier having a work supportingportion and a supplemental relatively movable portion for engagementwith the work piece to maintain the work piece in engagement with thepositioning member during the grinding operation.

7. The combination with a centerless grinder, including opposed grindingand regulating wheels and an intermediate work rest, of a workpositioning member aligned with the space between grinding andregulating wheels for engagement with a work' piece to establish theaxis thereof, and a reciprocable work carrier having a work supportingportion and a supplemental relatively movable portion for engagementwith the work piece to engage the work piece and move same out ofengagement with-the primary support therefor.

8. The combination with a centerless grinder, including opposed grindingand re ulating wheels and an intermediate wor rest, of a workpositioning member-aligned with the space between grinding andregulating wheels for engagement with a work piece to establish the axisthereof, a reciprocable work carrier having a work supporting portionand a supplemental relatively movable portion for engagement with thework piece to engage the work piece and move same out of engagement withthe primary support therefor, and means for resiliently urging thesupplemental member into operative engagement with the work piece.

gaged position, and means for additionally shifting the carrier to ejecta work piece on retracting movement thereof.

10. A work positioning mechanism of the character described, including acarrier for loosely-engaging a work piece, a yieldable clamp member onthe carrier for engagement with the work piece, and meansintropositionable in the path of movement of the work piece for urgingthe same against the clamp member.

11. The combination with a centerless grinder, including opposedgrinding and re ulating wheels and an intermediate wor rest, of aworklimiting member projectionable in the path of movement of a workpiece in the grinding throat, and a work carrier movable toward and fromthe grinding throat in position to the grinding member having a jaoentclamp plunger, means for limiting the normal work supporting portion andan ad- 'plunger in a clamping direction, and means for shiftin thedevice as an entirety in the directiono the grinding throat whereby theengagement of the limiting member with the work will render the plungeroperative to retain the work in position.

12. The combination with a centerless grinder, including opposedgrinding and re ulating wheels and an intermediate wor rest, 0 a worklimiting member projectionable in the path of movement of a work piecein the grinding throat, and a work carrier movable toward and from thegrinding throat in position to the grinding member having a normal worksupporting portion and an adjacent clamp plunger, means for limiting theplunger in a clamping direction, means for shifting the device as anentirety in the direction of the grinding throat whereby the engagementof the limiting member with the Work will render the plunger operativeto retain the work in proper aligned grinding position, means forautomaticall imparting movement to the carrier, and additional means forautomatically varying the width of the grinding throat in synchronismwith the carrier.

13. In a device of the'class described the combination of a bed, a pairof opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried there.-

y and forming a grinding throat therebetween, a. work rest bladesubtending the grinding throat, and a work positioning and ejectingmechanism for placing in and removing work pieces from the grindingthroat comprising a bar axially shiftable relative tothe grindingthroat, and means carried by thebar for supporting a work piece from aloading position to a position within the grinding throat and placingsaidwork piece on the work rest blade.

14. In a device of the class described the combination of a bed, a pairof opposed rinding and regulating wheel's carried there- %y and forminga grinding throat therebetween, a block beneath the grinding throat, a

work rest blade-supported by the block, a

bearing rising from the block, a work positioning member slidablyactuated through the bearing, means on the member for supporting andcarrying a work piece from a loading position to the throat and reverse,

and means on the member for actuating same.

proper alignedgrinding carrying a work piece from a loading position tothe throat and reverse, means on the member for actuating same, a secondbearing carried by the block in opposition to the sliding bearing, andmeans rotatably supported by the second" bearing for engagement with thework when in the grinding throat to position the work relative thereto.i

16. In a device of the class described the combination of a bed, a pairof o posed grinding and regulating wheels carrie thereand forming agrinding throat therebetween, a block beneath the (grinding throat, a

throat to position .the work relativethereto,

and means for independently adjusting the bearings relative to the blockto position said bearings relative to the work.

17 The combination with a centerless grinder including opposed grindingand regulating wheelsand an intermediate workrest forming a three pointgrinding throat, of means for inserting a work piece within the grindingthroat on the work rest blade comprisin a bearing, a slidable member carried by t e bearing and slidable relative; thereto, a cam slot withinthe member for determining the direction of movement thereof, and meanscarried by the bearing cooperatingwith the cam slot whereby the slidablemember will successively position a work piece carried -thereby withinthe grinding throat, retract said work piece from the throat andlaterally discharge the work.

18. In a device of the class described the combination of a vbed, a pairof opposed inding'a'nd regulating wheels carried therey ,and' forming agrinding throat therebei p tween, one of said wheels being translatablerelative to the bed for varying the width of the grinding throat, a workrest blade within the throat, and means carried by the bed in alignmentwith the throat axially shiftable relative thereto for placing workpieces within the throat and removing same therefrom when the saidthroat is enlarged.

19. In a device of'the class described the combination of a bed, a pairof opposed grinding and regulating wheels carried thereby and forming agrinding throat therebetween, one of said wheels being translatablerelative to the bed for varying the width of the grinding throat, a workrest blade within the throat, means carried by the bed in alignment withthe throat axially shiftable relative thereto for placing work pieceswithin the throat and removin same therefrom when the said throat is earged, and manual means for actuating one of the wheels and the workpositioning and ejecting member in timed sequence.

' 20. In a device of the class described the combination ofabed, a airof opposedgrinding and regulating wheels carried thereby 10 and forminga grinding throat therebetween, one of said wheels being movablerelative to the bed toward and from the other to vary the width of thegrinding throat, means in alignment with the grinding throat forsupporting a work piece for movement axially of the grinding throat, andautomatic means for actuating one of the wheels relative to the otherand the work positioning and ejecting means in timed sequence wherebythe grindmg throat is open, a work piece placed therein,'the grindingthroat contracted to reduce the work to the desired size, subsequentlyreopening the grinding throat and e ecting the work therefrom.

In'testimon whereof I afiix my signature.

REDERICK THELER.

till

